Time flies...when you're having fun

I'm sure it does, but it seems only to drag when I'm here.
But hopefully we will be on the move in a couple of days, or so.
I just thought I'd share a few photos of my workplace with you...
"The Clinic" is in the lower floor of the castle and it's where I spend a lot of my time.
Although, if things work out as expected, I won't be back here till the end of summer...what a prospect!

The Clinic Proper 

Our small Hyperbaric chamber

The Gym

Dental Suite

The in house Chapel

Jobbin'

Well, here we are

One month in and I guess I'm starting to understand the way things work around here, a little bit.

As you can see from the photos, I'm still on Brecqhou.

The weather has improved and Spring has finally arrived, it's not too shabby.

A lovely place to walk around.

Last Wednesday, 17 April, they had a 17 gun salute in honour of Lady Thatcher.  

It took quite some time, one minute between each of the shots.  

Quite impressive.  

She apparently visited the island back in 2000 and when she passed away was living at The Ritz.

Tim, my colleague, has been in London for the past week or so, therefore I'm feeling a bit lonely.  Sure, there are people here, cleaners, chef and kitchen staff, office staff etc. but no-one that I can discuss things with.  Isolation, I guess is the word.  We, the nurses, are the only ones who can't really have a day off, can't really get away do do personal stuff.  Not that I'm complaining.  Everyday is the same.  

and most days my actual work is only a few hours, but I do have certain responsibilities re: the clinic, renewing expired consumables, meds, device and equipment checks etc.  it's not that difficult, but has to be done.

Unfortunately, I'll probably only get 1 or two weeks holiday this year.  

I'm thinking I'll take Nicole for a run.  She's currently awaiting a insurance assessor/engineer it inspect and approve the repair work.  I guess the longer it takes, the less I have to pay for storage.  

Hopefully, the work will be completed by September.  

I would like to attempt another IBA ride.  Either the 4 corners, - England, Wales, Scotland or the FHB48, France, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.  Mind, it may be a bit cold in Norway at that time of year.  

We will see...

Anyway, I've got to get through the Summer first!

First of 17

The view isn't too bad

Walking

Where is Summer, or Spring for that matter?
I went for a bit of a walk on easter sunday.
Just to see the grounds and spend some time contemplating life
As you'll see from the photos, it really is a wondrous place where I live

Change of pace

well, What a change
I finished up at the PEH earlier this month
Spring came, but then winter decided it wasn't done with us
Nicole got attacked by the Wind, and lost
I packed and moved to even smaller island and have now started work.
I've already been to London staying where else, but the Ritz.
and I managed to catch up with Henning in London.
I can't believe it's been 5 years

Wai you no stand

Nancy, museum

Suit Up

In Rivoli Bar.

You do not want to know the price of these!

New beginning

Unbelievable!
Just got news from Brecqhou that my visa has been approved
Yay!
A weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
We received the news whilst up the top of wispile, just before our big sledge run of the day.
We had already been down Eggli twice and were starting our third.
Great news, a great day. A new start. It's all good.

Hard at work

My first day in Gstaad.
Met with the boss, DB.
I think he's pleased that I'm here
I arrived last night after a long days travel, about 12 hours.
Directly from night duty.
So, I was a little tired, to say the least
Mark picked me up from the train and then straight to the pub.
Introduced me to a few of my colleagues who work in service.
After meeting up with DB. we went out for a coffee.
And then hit the slopes.
Sledding. My first time on a proper ski slope.
Awesome!
A few major wipeouts but no injuries.

Nights

Yawn!

So bloody tired
Am on nights this week, only five more after tonight.
I have done a lot in the past few days and will have a busy couple of weeks ahead of me.
Saturday, I visited the island of Brecqhou. To complete forms, get info and get everything ready for the visa application. Upon returning I realised that I should probably get myself some decent clothes that reflect the position I'll hold. So a suit and shirts were in order.
Sunday, off to cobo tea house with a few of my housemates.
Monday, the weather was awesome. So, Nicole and I took a bit of a trip. My favourite cafe before heading out to jerbourg point, petit bot, and a bit of a ride along the coast.
Tuesday, I met up with Glyn and sold my Piaggio scooter. I rarely rode the thing and am actually glad it will go to a loving home.

It has been decided that I should fly out to Switzerland next week and spend the week with Mark & Sir David to learn a bit about his routine and get a handover from mark.
Hence the suit buying. Hey, he's picking up the bill.
Lets hope the visa comes through soon and I can hand in my notice.

It's almost 5am, only 2.5 hours to go.
I'll sign off now, get some work done and post more later.

Winter

Winter came and was white, cold and now has essentially moved on.

There was one night of snow.  That was about it.

At the same time, It snowed in the UK and Everything came to a stand-still

There is no coping.

It's been a very mild one. and maybe that's it.

(oops: but then again, who am I kidding.  

Looks like the cold is coming back, with a vengeance.)

I've got March off and hope, weather permitting, to head over to Europe on Nicole.

I would love to Travel over to Australia, but am waiting to hear from the Barclay Bros' company regarding a job interview I had back in December.

Might have to head to Switzerland for "handover"

But, as with everything...we will see.

as For what I've been up to.

January was pretty quite, but I did get to Liverpool to see Niki off.

She left work here in Guernsey and is off to New Zealand for at least a couple of months, with some of her mates.

Here's hoping that I can travel somewhere nice in March

I'll write more about the job on Brecqhou when I know more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brecqhou

Purdy morning

Vist to the poole of the Liver

Winter holiday

oh, what to do!

Due to a miscommunication, I ended up with 3 weeks off this month but nothing really planned.
I needed the sunshine, I needed the beach, I needed a break, I needed to Kitesurf.
but where to go?

I looked at Morocco, but the flight connections weren't any good and the accommodation was gonna cost over 900 Euros...WTF?
so, where else?

A colleague suggested Tenerife.  hey, why not.
As luck would have it, the first week, no wind "but this never happens"
Really?
anyway, there was hiking, more hiking, drinking and more drinking. a little kite surfing, although to the trained eye it probably looked like an Australian being dragged around by a kite whilst attempting to drown, unsuccessfully!

As Always, I went there with no expectations and came away pleasantly surprised with what the island had to offer and what I got done.


but at least I had fun and now feel refreshed.  Ready for some new challenges!

Next week I'm back to work for a lovely week o' nights, the seven nights of Christmas.
but before then I've got one thing to do on Friday.

The north coast 

At the top of Pico Viejo

Getting ready for Masca

Looking down from Montana Roja

Sunny days!

End of something

Well, here we are and the riding season is at an end.  Bikes in for repair and servicing, colder, wetter weather, short days, long nights. 

Planning for bigger and better rides is afoot.I've seen a couple that catch my eye.  The UK 4 Corners Gold, Gibraltar - Nordkapp 72 and the FHB 48 (Fucking, Hell and Bach).

Unfortunately the GN72 can't be ridden till I've completed another 2000 mile, extreme ride.  hence the FHB.

And yes, I'm going to ride to Fucking (Austria), Hell (Norway) and Bach (France).  Not surprisingly, this ride is through the Irish IBA. 

I've plenty of time to plan and prepare for my rides, the first won't be till after the beginning of the Tour de France.

I hope to catch at least one if not two stages of the TdF in 2013, The 100th, before my ride.

But enough pipe-dreams, back to the now and the winter.

Having just completed a week of nights, I've got a couple of weeks off work, I thought I'd do something reasonably constructive with my time.  So, it's off to Tenerife.

I'm hoping to improve my kite-surfing skills and get a bit of vitamin D in the process.

Then it'll be back to reality and another week of nights.  Such is a shift-workers' lot.

I hope that you're all well at this festive time of year and your loved ones are all near, in spirit if not person.

Almost the hardest ride in the UK

Awesome week

What a Week
I have achieved much more than I expected
I had the two End2End rides verified by the IBA UK.
and I have, just today, Passed my Advanced Life Support Provider Course.
Woo Hoo, I'm once again an ALS provider.
That means that I'm well on my way to being ready for the promotion that I recently applied for.
Interviews are to be held in about 10 days.
I'm feeling really quite positive about everything.

So Awesome, I think I deserve a couple of days away.
Niki and I are going to Jersey for the weekend, sat-mon.
Should be nice to get away together, see something different and pamper ourselves.
hope you all have a great weekend.

Achieved...

All smiles, the beginning!

Tuesday, 2nd October.  Landed in Portsmouth, UK at 0630.  I proceded directly to Land's End, Cornwall. An uneventful ride of approximately 250 miles in 6 hours.

I officially began my ride after getting my receipts for food and a witness from the "Land's End Hotel"

At about half way (400 miles into the ride) it Began to rain and didn't stop, across Scotland it was cold, dark, wet and uncomfortable.  My joints ached, my back was stiff and my knees frozen.  My helmet was leaking and fogging up.  But I continued and once I reached it to the border, I knew that I'd make it.

The last 100+ miles (after Inverness) were painful.  I slowed my ride, afraid I would make a mistake or hit am animal (haggis are a constant threat to Motorcycles) or miss a turn.  Although the progress was slow, it was breathtaking, Winding hilly roads, along the cliffs, through tiny villages.

Eventually, with about 17 miles to go, I had to stop for a cigarette, I was losing my concentration and feeling nauseous.  A short break and I was good to do.  I rode on and arrived at about 0600.  Just under 18 hours, 850 miles.  But at John O'Groats there was NO-ONE, the shops were closed, the only locals I spotted got into their fishing boat and headed off into the blue yonder, no-one.

Eventually I made breakfast and at about 0800 I met a couple of lads about to start work, roofing on a construction site.  I decided to check in to the nearest hotel - "The Seaview" Less than a mile away.

After a much needed bath, I slept 10 hours straight.

That evening, when I went down to the bar for dinner, I met Martin, one of the afore-mentioned roofers and asked him to witness my arrival, which he did.

I really felt beat, exhausted and not inclined to do the return journal, the End-to-end Gold, via the M25 and London.  I wasn't able to sleep till 0400.

The next morning I was sick, probably a combination of exhaustion and Tennants.  I couldn't stomach breakfast so had a nap.  Eventually checking out at about 1200.  I made my way to "the first and Last" tourist shop, got a sticker and receipt for the beginning of the return journey.

Sometime during my nap I had decided to attempt the Gold End-to-End.  Over 1000 Miles.

The first part of the journey was indeed lovely and a pleasure to ride.  Cliff roads, villages, winding roads, tight corners, a dream.  

I basically followed the same route southward until over the border into England, Penrith, where I headed South East along the A66 till the A1(M).  I then followed this road till the M25 and London.  Usually the biggest car-park in the world, it was a pleasure to ride at this stupid time of the morning when only truckers and insomniacs are awake.  I had intended to halt at Clacket Lane Services, but due to fatigue and petrol requirements, I stopped immediately before Dartmouth Bridge.  I then continued on the M25 toll the M3-A303-A30 to Land's End.

Arriving at land's end, Nothing was to open till after 1000, I arrived just before 0900.  So, after a while I made my way into the Hotel, again, had a coffee and had my documents witnessed.

Being Early, I had hoped to make it back to Poole in time to change my return Ferry.  But there had been an accident on the A30 which had to be closed.  The diversion took between 1 and 2 hours longer than expected and when I eventually got onto the road into Poole, traffic was heavy and slow.

So, I decided to stop at a hotel or B&B.  On arriving in Poole it started raining heavily and I was bloody tired.  After more than 26 hours on the bike, I just wanted to Stop.

I found a Holiday Inn-Express, got a room but no bath.  After a shower, I slept for about 5 hours and then ate and went back to bed.  The next morning I discovered that breakfast was included, Yay!

I checked out late, made it to the ferry in plenty of time and was on my way home.

It's been a hard week.  Just under 2000 miles of ironbutt and with travel to and fro, just over 2500 miles total (± 4000 kms) in 4 days.  

It's been hard on my body and hard on Nicole.  My fingers and toes have altered sensation and my back is stuff from the heavy, wet bike gear.

Despite all this, I feel bloody Good.

Nicole is booked in for some work next week and I'll get her sorted.  Then Tyres, Helmet repaired, and hopefully, eventually my fingers shall return to normal.

I'm looking forward to catching up with Niki and relaxing.

 

End to End

Well, here's the plan.

Not that it's much of a plan

1. Finish nights tomorrow morning

2. Sleep

3. Get the over-night Ferry to the UK 

4. Ride to my starting point, Land's End

5. Ride to John O'Groats 

6. Pray for no rain

That's about it really.

And if it rains, just in case you were about to ask, I will get WET.

I wish you all a great week.

A While...

It has been some time since I last wrote anything in the Interwebs and thought I'd better make amends.

This year has been quiet but with some Awesome moments thrown in.
Visited Mick and Ails (et al) in France
Rode Nicole to Northern Germany for a "Mofarralley"
and also visited Jay in Kassel

I'm currently on Nights but next week am off and plan to visit the UK.
I'm hoping to complete one, if not two, Iron Butt Rides.
End-to-end, Lands End to John O'Groats.
I hope that the flood waters have run off by the time I get there, I'm sure that Nicole doesn't swim well.

The Northern and shorter route will be basically straight through.  When I return, a couple of days later, I'll take a longer route via the M25 and London.

better get to work, only 4 shifts to go.