Skippy

Well, 2025 hasn’t started particularly well. Having been over to the UK to visit my dad in hospital just before Xmas my cousin went to see him about four weeks ago and alerted me to his deterioration. Having seen a couple of photos it was obvious he was much worse than before Xmas, although the hospital kept telling me he was doing okay and was being considered for discharge! Went over to see him and it was quite obvious he was fading away and sadly he wasn’t communicating so all I could do was talk to him. He was transferred to a hospice last Wednesday but I had to fly back to Spain on Thursday morning so I said my goodbyes beforehand. My cousin went to see him on Friday lunchtime for a couple of hours and at 2.30pm UK time he passed away peacefully. He had just turned 88 years old so it’s fair to say he had a good innings but it doesn’t really make it any easier just yet. So, that’s that then; both parents gone, no siblings and no offspring of my own. When you consider how much useful and active time you may have left it makes you want to seize every opportunity, take every chance, be less risk adverse and just not worry about the small shite that seems to permeate our everyday lives. So, today instead of pondering about cremations, wakes and all of the fucking admin that needs to be done I’m out on my bike, enjoying the sun and the empty roads. …………….I just hope to God he doesn’t bump into the ginger Welsh twat

Thats proper unlucky, poor sod.

How the fuck did he manage that?

Had to go and get a replacement headlight bulb this morning for the Yamaha so turned up at an official Yamaha dealership, all swanky marketing stuff and a full range of new bikes. I thought to myself “I’m going to pay for all this bling”……….. but no, I spoke to the salesman in my bestest Spanish, he checked to see if they had any in stock and gave me one………for free! I thought he was joking at first but it seems he was happy that I’d made an effort to speak Spanish rather than just shout in English Happy days.

Had a great stag do there for a mate of mine. Woke up in the morning wearing a pink dressing gown in a house I didn’t recognise. If that wasn’t bad enough I was hanging out of the back door guzzling black coffee when the milkman delivered the daily pint and said “ooooh another wedding is it?” Apparently, I was in the Best Man’s house and he’d been the Best Man at loads of weddings…….fucking hillbillies

Thanks Sofia, if we decide to do that I’ll let you know

I blame Pete for not telling me.

Ah fuck it I can’t be bothered. I’ve used my weekly quota of brain power today just trying to fathom out what it is I’ve done wrong to piss my missus off. I have the feeling it was breathing.

So basically this BOTY competition consists of all the BOTM winners? If that’s the case I thought my crappy old FZ6N won one month didn’t it? Or is that just wishful thinking/dementia?

I must have missed it then otherwise I wouldn’t have asked the question. Your sarcasm is much appreciated though.

Genuine question Pedro, how do those ones get chosen?

Cheers Pedro, just wondered if it would be worth doing with some mates from the UK. No worries mate.

Hey @Pedro, are you familiar with this part of Portugal or this particular route? www.rotanorte.pt

Don’t sell yourself short mate, those two activities take quite a bit of effort.

So, plan A was to play golf today. Mixup on the bookings so had to give that a miss. Plan B was to take the mountain bike out but found the rear tyre was flat and all the slime in the inner tube splashed everywhere. I’d run out of spare inner tubes so plan C was put into action. Plan C was to take the bike out for a spin which I did but ended up getting caught in a sudden downpour and soaked through with no waterproofs in my bag. You could say I was destined to go nowhere and stay indoors today. Beer o’clock it is then.

Well it would have been if I’d poured it over the food Pedro

That’s one big chunk of tortilla containing potatoes and onions and the rest is a mixture of tuna, onions, tomatoes, olives, boiled egg and peppers with a nice olive oil dressing……..the bread was still warm too

Out for a couple of hours this morning, principally a breakfast run. Some lovely scenery, cracking roads and hardly any traffic. What’s not to like eh? I’m very lucky to be living here.

Yep, just as you described it. I concentrated so hard on not pissing my pants I accidentally farted and it was hideous. I gave a disapproving look at the old Spanish lady sitting next to me. Age is no barrier to me.

Ooooooh I’m weak willed and gave in. Technically I’m still on ‘holiday’ and it is 4am so perfectly reasonable.

The weekend went in a blur so much so that I’ve no idea what I did but I do know that it’s 0305 on Monday morning as I type this sitting at Gatwick Airport waiting for my 0630 flight back home to Spain. A Greggs coffee and fat-bastard baguette will see me through.

And there’s me thinking you Harley types were rough, tough individuals?

Sorry for the late reply Bob, yep on my own. My missus hasn’t been back to the UK once since we moved here ten years ago.

And so it begins……..incoming flight has been diverted to Alicante. I can see a bus transfer on the horizon……..at least I can lick the windows

Excellent, much appreciated