Yes indeed its all change with my plans!

So here we go, the next chapter of Gaby, Media Circus - I think the title says it all!

I may be able to post on Sunday, think I've mixed up the date for Blenheim and apparently its to go to the Country File Show.

See you soon

Mads

Hi folks
the keen amongst you may have spotted a new Gaby chapter has been posted.

You may also have noticed that the posting is a bit, er basic.

Well my excuse is its been posted from a laptop with a mind of its own when it comes to scroll controls and getting this far has been interesting!

So enjoy the words, i'll get it properly formatted when I've got a properly user friendly interface.

Anyhow, after a two day journey we arrived in the Pyrenees, had my first view of the Med on the way and we're just enjoying some downtime before dinner.

Well i'm getting a bit jiggy on three fronts this weekend.

First is the possibility that Chris Froome will, in less than 48 hours take his 4th TdeF title. Yep, just 22km remain to affect the result - no one's daft enough to race on Sunday other than the sprinters. The race hasn't exactly been action packed, the loss of some exciting riders early on has coloured that but it certainly shouldn't detract from the achievement.

Monday was okay and yesterday was quite productive but today - well today has been less good. Its four weeks tomorrow that Mum died, four weeks ago today the last time I spoke with her, we just made the usual noises of goodbye, nothing different to thousands of times before, I somehow feel guilty for not saying more, a simple 'love you' or parent/child kiss. But that's not my family's way and I feel that I've been robbed of that intimacy, its not going down the same with #1, we are much more huggers.

in that I've started writing Gaby book 21 and I've started riding again this week - oh and I nearly forgot, there's a new chapter of book 15, Torture uploaded here today!

That's it for now, more on Sunday I hope!

Tschussie
Mads

The cycling afficionados amongst you might well already know but history was made today in Düsseldorf.

In a totally unexpected result nearly man Geraint (G) Thomas won the opening TT stage of the TdeF by a hefty 5 seconds! The first Welsh rider to wear the Yellow Jersey he had to beat several TT world champions and indeed the recently crowned UK champion to get his Lion!

Whether by chance or design Team Sky placed 4 riders in the first ten ahead of all the other GC contenders some of whom lost more time today than Froomies winning margin last year!

Yes, thank you to everyone who has offered condolences etc over the last fortnight since my mother passed away, it was very much appreciated.

We had the funeral this afternoon, a simple cremation as she wanted, the assembled mourners were largely family but also included many people from councillors to foster children whose lives she had touched.

I'm sure there will continue to be dark days but I think the darkest are past.

It occurred to me yesterday that part of the reason people find bereavement so difficult is down to a lack of knowledge. Over the last couple of weeks we've come into contact with various agencies and I have to say they've all made things as easy as possible. However it's been a bit of a game of join the dots - take this, go there, ring this number - oh i'm not complaining but at times its not helped having to wait to see people because you need paper A to get paper B to get result C.

So here I am, ten days after my world was turned inside out.

I'm still getting infuriated by my leg, still getting weepy for no apparent reason, still.......Yes, things are getting better, tomorrow should sort out most of the financial stuff and then its just getting through Thursday. I'm expecting to be a mess on Thursday in front of the relatives but sod 'em, we need to move on and if that means a good blub so be it.

So today things have moved on some. We've arranged the funeral, a week Thursday so a fortnight after her passing. It's a big weight off, oh it still needs paying for and getting through but there will be a few days before we have more to do.

Managing to get a grip most of the time, just got to hold things together for dad. Having a timetable helps.

Who knows I might even feel like writing again afterwards.

Anyhow, i'll be back tomorrow

Mads

To everyone who have offered their condolences and support over the last day.

A whole day, I'm sure it will get better but not quickly.

Mum was heading towards 80 in October, she has had health issues for 20 years however this was totally unexpected. A heart attack due to clots on her lungs - they fought for 4 hours but in the end there was nothing more to do.

She died without ever regaining consciousness @ 1.30 after a final heart failure.

First up today, my thoughts are with all those affected by London's very own, real life Towering Inferno - 2017 is not turning out to be a great year for this country.

And here it is, Chapter 2!

Writing on Gaby - Express is going well, with a following wind (plenty of that around here atm!) you should see part 4 on Kindle Sunday!

Bye for now
Mads

Hello folks

Apologies but there won't be any story posting today - as some of you know, I don't have my own internet connection (I'm writing this on my phone) so I'm reliant on access to my parents line and today I don't I have that.

So the last part of Nena - Remind me Again and first of Gaby - Friends will now be posted on Wednesday.