for which i apologise!

The weather and upcoming events are conspiring to interrupt my normal posting schedule for the next couple of weeks. Today i would normally be out on the bike but a series of quite heavy showers have kept me indoors, no point in intentionally going out to get wet! But before i tell you what's happening in the future, lets revisit the past.

Monday i had hoped to do some writing but instead i had a long walk to get a late lunch and a bit of shopping - i really couldn't get in writing mode. Tuesday however i got myself ready and set off on the bike into a bright but cool morning. An early lunch at Clevedon @ 30km in then another 70km loop back eastwards towards Bath and back with an extra stop for tea and cake before completing the ride, 105km, 800+m and dry. It was a nice day's riding, when i got back Aunty Bev had arranged a day out for Wednesday.

Which is why i'm posting this a day later than usual. The excursion was down to Dorsetshire to visit our very own Dormouse Woman, a wet and windy two hour drive on this occasion. We had a nice visit, lunch in the town then an at least dry return journey. It wasn't late when we got back but after the early start i was bushed and after fetching my tea and eating it, really couldn't face doing anything productive.

So today, its my Dad's 93rd which is amazing as we didn't think he'd make his 70th! Its been a difficult year for him and in turn the rest of the family, we'll have a slightly belated 'celebration' during my visit next week.

I hadn't planned on a trip north at this time but we need to lay my best friend to rest so i'll be travelling up on Sunday and returning the following Sunday. The original plan had been to go up for Tuesdays funeral and come straight back but stuff connected to the funeral meant i needed to have more flexibility and a chance to see my daughter and grandson extended things further. As a result the usual Sunday post will be missing, the next Gaby chapter should go up when i get back, so a week on Sunday. I should have some internet access via my phone so i should be able to post some sort of blog although when exactly is a moving target at the moment.

I'll be glad when the funeral is over, not just for me but the close family can start to move on from what i know has been a very difficult month, yes it will be four weeks on Monday since the dark day. On a personal level i hadn't realised just how much our relationship affected my life, i find myself wondering what he'd say to this, i'll take a photo of that for him. he'd enjoy riding here and so on. Hardly a day goes by when i don't see or do something that i would've shared with him, the grief may have dialed back but the feeling of loss persists and to be honest i'm dreading Tuesday.

Today i'm sorting out stuff to take north, if i take Xmas prezzies up now it'll be easier when i go up again in December, unless anything untoward happens i'll be spending the festive season in Germany again. Between the showers i'll get in some sort of walk this afternoon then tomorrow it gets complicated again. I will get a ride in either tomorrow or Saturday and spend the other day writing - well thats the plan!

For now thats it,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid