I'm not sure what I feel about Christmas this year what with one thing and another.

I'm not a religious person but that doesn't mean I don't usually enjoy the festivities, the Christmas markets, the food, trees and other trappings of the festive season. But this year things are somewhat different, my finances at an all time low, I'm living best part of 200 miles from most of my life - friends, family and possessions, combined that means I'm not able to participate or indulge in the usual get togethers and so on. I really can't get into much of a seasonal mood.

It extends further, I won't be sending out the usual gifts and cards - it was either that or starve and I prefer to eat, at least a little! If you usually get something in the post from me, you won't this year I'm afraid, doesn't mean you are off the list, hopefully normal service will resume in 2020. The exception of course is the GC, I consider it a responsibility of Grandparents to 'spoil' Grand children, at least once a year and if that means missing out on some personal level to achieve that, well so be it.

I guess now is as good a time as any to give you a heads up on my schedule into the New Year, postings may be somewhat haphazard! Next Thursday I'm heading up to Yorkshire for a couple of days prior to a long planned trip to Germany for Christmas with my father, I will get to see a couple of friends and do the GC present drop before we depart. On our return I get a one day layover before returning to Cabot town in time for New Year.

The posting schedule for new chapters will hopefully be thus:-

• Sunday 15/12
• Wednesday 18/12
• Sunday 22/12
• Christmas Day (subject to internet availability at the hotel)
• Sunday 29/12
• New Years Day
• Sunday 5/1

So, what have I been up to since the weekend? More than usual but interrupted with weather. On Monday I was treated to a visit to Brunel's SS Great Britain, the first real passenger liner, in her dry dock down in Brizzle. Its an excellent museum, telling the story not just of the ship but of its designer, IK Brunel and the reconstructed ship is amazing. I had a really good day, took my mind off of more mundane issues and learnt stuff too - what's not to like? Thank you again Bev, I really do appreciate everything you've done for me over the last couple of months.

Tuesday was a wash out so I put my usual ride back a day which caused the late posting! Yes, yesterday, for only the fourth time this year, I went out on a bike on a Wednesday! A steady ride out to Clevedon on a cool but largely dry morning so of course I suffered a deflation - big lump of sharp grit. Then, as it looked better inland I headed across to the Mendip where I climbed Burrington Combe to the high ground before looping back to my accommodation mid afternoon. Not really sure why but last night I was feeling particularly tired which was why I forgot to do the post when I got back.

Of course, today is election day here in the UK and for the first time since turning 18 I won't be voting - not because I don't want to but persons of no fixed abode can't register to vote which sucks, especially given everything that is at stake this time around. TBH, the whole pantomime, or should that be farce, really depresses me, the vision and pride of the nation reduced to toddler tantrums, wholesale lies and contempt for the general population has made this once great nation a laughing stock, one that I'm ashamed to be a citizen of - there is no great left in Great Britain. There, I've said my piece, i'll leave the subject there.

I'm getting a bit concerned for the well being of my laptop - and on the back of that my ability to write and post stuff. Its got a few quirks which don't make life easy and its ability to process larger documents isn't great - that could be due to lack of Ram, processor and/or the software. So I've come to a decision, As top priority I need to buy a new PC - I have screens and keyboards, I just need a tower with plenty of computing power and some less glitchy software. I guess I've been putting it off for a while now but things are coming to a head and I don't want to end up sans computer due to my own apathy.

Now I've got all that off my chest, so to speak, I suppose you want some Gaby to read? Okay then, the new chapter, Seaside Rendezvous (I'd been listening to a lot of Queen when I was writing it) covers the after race, nothing too exciting, we return to the racing next time!

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