R.I.P Spook.

It is with great sadness I must relate the passing of Spook this afternoon following a short period of illness. In the last month he had developed neurological complications which left him unable to control his back muscles, in addition to Type 1 Diabetes which he was being injected twice a day for. He was responding well to the insulin injections but his quality of life took a serious downturn this weekend and the difficult decision was made to lay him to rest. He will be sorely missed as he was an exceptional cat. As a rescue cat, he had, until recently, a good, healthy life and was nearly 14 this year. His memory will always be alive and he will be remembered with deep fondness and love.

A Merry Summer Solstice

Hoping you have a Merry Solstice celebration and Midsummer blessings to you all.

Me and Vincent Vega

In respect to what Tree said about seeing the doctor, I booked an appointment and we both went along today. I was half expecting to feel stupid as I prefered to stay in denial about my health and thought the doc would say there is nothing wrong. As it is, he has diagnosed, subject to confirmation, that I suffer with neurocardiogenic syncope or vasovagal response. I won't bore you here but, in brief, a nerve, controlling involuntary actions of the heart, etc goes a bit A.W.O.L from time to time caused by certain triggers. This causes blood flow to the brain to plummet and a blackout follows. In my case it is triggered by fatigue or changes in temperature, which explains episodes in the sea, on a hot day on holiday, coming out of the steam room at the gym,etc. I now have to have a bank of tests done including ECG's, an X-ray of the heart and blood tests. In the long term it means I will have to adapt my lifestyle and practice certain routines to implement at the first signs of an attack, to avert it. I am just relieved to know I am not going mad and imagining it all. It could have been far more serious and I am lucky in that case.
On a lighter note, Tree says it sounds like Vincent Vega out of Pulp Fiction and it could end up as my nickname - Great!!

Surfs Up Dude.

Seeing the weather was looking a bit better and being in need of another holiday, even for a long weekend, Tree, Matzo, Germaine, Mike, Kate and I went down to Croyde to catch some sun and sea. Germaine hadn't been in the sea in this country, having only experienced the warmer waters of the Caribbean Sea, and was game for giving it a go. The surf wasn't too high but we managed to get a couple of hours out of it. I got too cold and had one of my turns which Tree wasn't too happy about, as I know they worry her. Mike didn't have any sun cream on and ended up looking like the proverbial lobster. We spent most of the evenings just relaxing and taking it easy ( I wasn't fit for much else). Germaine creased us up with his inimitable way of putting things and looked like he was riding a huge inflatable Vagina a lot of the time.(See photo). I recovered quite well, enough to pack everything away on Sunday at least, and was glad of having Monday off as well. We were so lucky with the weather seeing as it rained on Thursday and then stayed fine until the moment we got home!!

I have promised Tree I will go back to the doctors again to sort out my blackouts once and for all.

The Christening.

Everyone I know who rides has always said that, at some point or other, a new bike will christen you. Well I got mine just yesterday as I reached down to check the oil valve and brushed against an 800 degree exhaust. At first I thought it was just a minor burn but very quickly I realised it was a bit more. The skin almost instantly fell away and it started bleeding. One of the dermotologists at work spotted it and said it would most likely leave a permanent scar. So I got my christening! It is now a few days on and it has ulcerated to the point it will leave a scar. The photo shows the burn just after I did it and it looks quite tame but, trust me, it aint. I won't be doing that again in a hurry !!

He shoots , he scores.....

Well today I took one big step towards my goal of getting my bike back by passing my first test. The test took a total of 8 hours with half of it being on the road, connected by radio mike, with the tutor. The first half was on a disused airfield and involved an array of tests including emergency stops, slow controlled turns and an assault course. The on-road was mind numbing as it was so hot and I was fully kitted up. I was quite dizzy and vague by the time I got home! The good news is that Tree and I went out today and bought my new bike. Tammy is now sold and goes to her new home later on today.

Tree is adamant that I will not miss Tammy but I think I will always have a soft spot for scootering about.

Then again, I have just fired up the Yammy and already become seduced by the sound of the V-twin rumbling like gentle thunder!

What a jolly holiday.

You know how it goes... work, sleep, work, sleep and then before you realise it you need a holiday and, surprise, its holiday time!

Tree and I decided to go back to the first place we ever went on holiday together in Ibiza. We mailed ahead and managed to get the same apartment at the front of the hotel with a beautiful view of the bay at Portinaxt. How good is that? It was just like we had never left.
We filled up the days with trips out to the Hippy Market and to different places around the island. We went to St Antonio and watched the sun go down looking out to Cafe Del Mar, next to Mambo and Club Paradis. The first time we went to Cafe Del Mar there was just an old jetty by some ropey hotels. Now there are big staggered verandahs with canvas canopies that loads of people sit out at. Every night people gather to see the sunset. As the sun sinks below the horizon a big cheer goes up and people clap and whistle. All very pagan if you think about it.

Tree wasn't too well on the second week, so we took it easy and stayed around the apartment and beach. I was glad just to do nothing and chill out. I reckon I put on a few pounds as well due to the fact that the Spanish have no real understanding of veggie food. Nearly every dish was loaded with cheese and indigestion was rife!