Well that's what Winston Churchill called them, when, for whatever reason, you fall into a deep depression.

Lets step back a day or two. Thursday, bike day of course, i decided to do a variation of my Stroud loop, effectively a ride from the Brizzle Frome to the Stroud Frome and back, almost inevitably at least 100km of riding, clockwise accumulates more climbing metres, anti is generally easier if the wind is coming from anywhere more westerly. Of course just to be awkward i chose the 'wrong' direction giving me assistance on the shorter, flatter, northwards leg.

I decided to get a proper dinner, steak & kidney pie, chips, peas and gravy, to ensure i had the calories available for the return leg through the Cotswolds. Most of the altitude gains were quite sheltered but once on the plateau the wind was a constant nagging presence for pretty much two hours of riding, 114km, just shy of 1000m of up, a hard day's ride to be sure.

I've no idea of the seed but i guess the Black Dog started to creep up on me that evening. Friday was a wash out as a result, it was a struggle to get out of bed, a struggle to do very much to be honest, after tea i had a bottle of beer, didn't help, i ended up getting an 'early' night.

Things weren't much better Saturday morning but i dragged myself up, a bike ride of some sort might help? I set off with no particular plan, only once i'd climbed the Cotswold edge did a sort of route suggest itself. When i set off i was thinking 50km would be reasonable but i passed that before i dropped into the Avon valley east of Bath. In the end i reached the house after 81 non stop kilometres and 700m of up but to be honest my mood was not much better than when i set out.

Okay, things have moved from dark dudgeon to a state of melancholic sadness and introspection. Going over what the fates have thrown my way, personal choices, opportunities missed or lost for reasons unknown. Things could of course be worse but that doesn't mean i have to be happy with where i am in my life.

So anyway, today Europe has changed its clocks to Summer time, the sun is out, the days longer than the nights, heck the sun is out and temperatures are knocking on the teen doors. And of course, being Sunday there is a new Gaby chapter, The End is Nigh is up, i hope you enjoy it.

Hopefully i can put the 'Dog back in the kennels sooner rather than later, i will get stuff done, i must get into a better frame of mind.

i'll be back on Wednesday,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid